John Broughton (1704? – 8 January 1789)

Timeline

• ca. 1704

  Birth of John (Jack) Broughton

  John Broughton is born to unknown parents, probably in London.

• 31 May 1723

  Apprenticed

  John is apprenticed to John Martin, a Thames waterman, and assigned to Martin's brother Thomas, a lighterman.

• 1 August 1730

  Wins Doggett's Coat and Badge

  Broughton competes against five other Watermen in a rowing race on the Thames, from the Old Swan to the Swan at Chelsea Church, for Mr. Doggett's annual prize of a Livery Coat and Silver Badge. The competition is held for Watermen in their first year of freedom, that is, who have come out of their apprenticeships since the first of August the preceding year. Broughton, who plies at Hungerford Stairs, wins by six boat lengths.

• October 1730

  Starts career as a pugilist

  Papers advertise a match "for a considerable Sum of money" at Stokes's Amphitheatre between Broughton and one of his earliest combatants, Thomas Allen, a St. Giles pipe-maker.

• 30 March 1738

  Broughton defeats George Stephenson

  "Thursday Noon was decided the great Boxing Match at the Booth at Tottenham-Court, between the famous John Broughton and George Stephenson, Coachman to the Right Hon. the Marquess of Powis, for 100 l. (Pipes was Second to Broughton, and the fighting Barber to the Coachman) when Broughton beat his Antagonist in 16 Minutes and an Half. Several considerable Sums were depending, and a great Number of Persons of Distinction present: It was one of the hardest Battles ever known, and both were oblig'd to be carried off the Stage, terribly bloody and bruis'd. One Mayner, a Barber and Perriwigg-maker in Dean-street, Soho, was squeaz'd to Death in attempting to get into the Booth."—London Evening Post, March 30–April 1, 1738

• 1 January 1743

  Proposals for Erecting a New Amphitheatre

  Broughton publishes Proposals for Erecting an Amphitheatre for the Manly Exercise of Boxing, by John Broughton, Professor of Athletics, and seeks contributions towards the cost.

• 1743

  Opening of the New Amphitheatre

  Broughton's "New Amphitheatre" opens, advertised as located at the “back of the late Mr. Figg’s” or “near the late Mr. Figg’s, in Oxford Road.”

• 1744

  "The Gymnasiad, or, Boxing Match"

  Satirist Paul Whitehead dedicates "The Gymnasiad, or, Boxing Match: a very short, but very curious epic poem" to Broughton.

• 11 April 1750

  Broughton's last contest

  Following a challenge by Jack Slack, Broughton comes out of retirement for a final bout, held at Broughton’s Amphitheatre in Oxford Road. Broughton claimed to have had an "uninterrupted Course of Victories" for the previous twenty-four years, but in just over fourteen minutes he is defeated by Slack.

• 8 January 1789

  Death of John Broughton

  Broughton dies at his home in Walcot Place, Lambeth, at the age of eighty-five.